It’s undeniable that Hollywood has opened its doors to films from all over the world, not just the United States. In just the last seven years, we’ve had Parasite (which won), Drive My Car, Triangle of Sadness, Anatomy of a Fall, The Zone of Interest, Past Lives, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, The Secret Agent, and Sentimental Value. No small thing. Is it only a matter of time before American cinema is pushed aside to make way for films from other countries?
From “American cinema” to “international cinema”
Rodrigo Teixeira, producer of I’m Still Here and also behind films like Frances Ha, Call Me by Your Name, or Ad Astra, is absolutely clear about it: the change is just around the corner. “We’re seeing at least three or four international films in the Best Picture category. And in five years I think international films will be 60% of the category. I truly believe it, because we have more to say”. This year, La bola negra could set a major precedent.
“We have freedom of expression, and in the United States, without freedom of expression, it’s hard for us to get financing. But outside we do have it, and I think that in five years international films are going to be bigger than American ones”. As much as I liked I’m Still Here, honestly, I can’t imagine people lining up to see it before Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
This very year, in fact, the predictions suggest that the Best Picture race will include La bola negra (Spain), Fjord (Romania), or Possible Love (South Korea) competing. It’s still too early to say, but it seems the Brazilian producer is right: it’s not just a few isolated cases. It’s that a revolution is coming.
